The Luminescence Foundation Inc
The Luminescence Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Marshall, Virginia. Established in 2000, it operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with tax-exempt status since May 2000.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.9M
-0.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
-13.7% YoY
Grant Count
56
-37.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
+38.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Luminescence Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Primary geographic areas of focus include Virginia, New York, and Maryland.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected/invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$500-$667,667
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary funding areas include Virginia, New York, and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $30,862,587
- Total revenues: $6,259,577
- Total expenses: $4,045,650
- Total giving: $2,762,980
Investment Income:
- Investment income and dividends: $677,299 (2024)
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $2,924,501 (2024)
Historical Assets (2023):
- Total assets: $31.1 million
- Total revenues: $9.62 million
- Total expenses: $4.21 million
The foundation maintains a giving rate of approximately 10.2% of assets.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,862,587 | $31,072,313 | $25,594,610 |
| Revenue | $6,259,577 | $9,617,394 | $1,660,965 |
| Expenses | $4,045,650 | $4,205,791 | $4,259,620 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,825,044 | $3,234,574 | $3,049,972 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,768,845 | $8,254,262 | $681,889 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,936,034 | $2,423,966 | $2,787,931 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
233 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mayo Clinic ($666,667), Weta ($200,000), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AAHA LAKEWOOD, CO | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN PRAIRIE RESERVE BOZEMAN, MT | GENERAL | $83,333 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION BERRYVILLE, VA | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| THE ALS ASSOCIATION ROCKVILLE, MD | GENERAL | $75,000 |
| BIG APPLE HONOR FLIGHT WINCHESTER, VA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| THE WILD ANIMAL SANCTUARY AFTON, VA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| BULL RUN MOUNTAIN CONSERVANCY BROAD RUN, VA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| I HAVE A DREAM FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER WASHINGTON DC, DC | GENERAL | $7,500 |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members & Directors:
- Zohar Ben-Dov (President/Director)
- Lisa Ben-Dov (Vice President/Director)
- Tamar Ben-Dov (Director)
- Ariella Ben-Dov (Director)
- Andrew Albstein (Director)
- Seth Brufsky (Director)
- Christy Martin (Secretary/Treasurer)
- Talia Spanier-Baker (Director)
- Arnold Koonin (Director)
The foundation operates with limited staffing and no paid employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZOHAR BEN-DOV | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| LISA BEN-DOV | VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| TAMAR BEN-DOV | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ARIELLA BEN-DOV | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ANDREW ALBSTEIN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SETH BRUFSKY | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CHRISTY MARTIN | SECRETARY/TREASURER | — | — |
| TALIA SPANIER-BAKER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ARNOLD KOONIN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Luminescence Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's grant-making focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services Primary geographic areas of focus include Virginia, New York, and Maryland.
How do I apply for a grant from The Luminescence Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $2,762,980 (2024) • Number of grants: 56-84 grants annually (varies by year) • Median grant amount: $10,000-$15,000 • Grant range: $500-$667,667 • Typical awards: $100-$666,667 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Mayo Clinic: $666,667 • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: $200,000 • New York-Presbyterian Fund: $200,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected/invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Where does The Luminescence Foundation Inc make grants?
Primary funding areas include Virginia, New York, and Maryland.
What size grants does The Luminescence Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Luminescence Foundation Inc awarded 56 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Luminescence Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Luminescence Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Luminescence Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Luminescence Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1989253. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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